The Actor Sakata Hangoro III as Takechi Mitsuhide in "The Banquet," the Final Act in Part One of the Play Kanagaki Muromachi Bundan (Muromachi Chronicle in Kana Script), Performed at the Ichimura Theater from the First Day of the Eighth Month, 1791 c. 1791

This woodblock print, made by Katsukawa Shun'ei in 1791, depicts the actor Sakata Hangoro III in the role of Takechi Mitsuhide. It's a window into the vibrant world of late 18th-century Japanese Kabuki theater. The print doesn’t just show us a performer; it reflects the complex social dynamics of the Edo period. Kabuki, while popular, existed on the margins of official culture, often facing censorship. The actors, despite their fame, were considered social outcasts. Shun'ei's work captures this tension, immortalizing a fleeting moment on stage while hinting at the actor's ambiguous social position. The artist uses visual codes familiar to the audience of his time, like the actor’s costume and the stylized makeup, which would have immediately signaled the character’s traits and role within the play. Historians rely on theater programs, diaries, and government records to fully understand the cultural context of works like this. The print is not just a portrait but a historical document, reflecting the social structures and artistic institutions of its time.